Peter
knows all too well the link between suffering and Satan. Peters warning about Satans opposition
becomes clearer. Twice Peter falls prey
to Satans attacks. The first time is in
Matthew 16 where Peter rebuked Christ for bringing up the subject of His
suffering since Peter had only thots of glory and triumph. Jesus says to Peter ‘get behind me Satans’
assigning to Peter the spirit of Satan that attempts to divert Jesus from doing
the will of the Father. Later, just
before the Lords arrest, Jesus warned Peter of Satans demand to ‘sift him like
wheat’ Luke 22:31-32. Satan wants to
pick Peter apart and that is exactly what happens when Peter denies
Christ. These experiences form the basis
of the warning we are about to receive when we too find ourselves under
pressure concerning our faith. What is
it we must know so that we can be “Believers Beware”?
1. WE MUST BE ON CONSTANT ALERT BECAUSE SATAN
WILL ATTACK US 5:8
While we are to place our confidence always in the
Lord we must not be careless. Satan we
are told is always looking for an advantage over us. We can be especially vulnerable when our
faith is under fire for some reason.
When we are suffering as believers in some way. That seems to be a vulnerable moment that the
demonic network attempts to take advantage of.
It was so with Peter. So we are
commanded to live soberly, with self-control and to stay awake and
watchful. It is like ringing a bell
sharply ‘be alert’ ‘be awake’. The
spiritual warfare we wage demands vigilance.
You are a target of Satan. That is what we learn from the description
here. His goal is to defeat you, your
testimony, your faith and your God. The
idea of the description of a lion is the pursuit of prey, to place fright in
them and eventually devour the frightened prey.
He is on the prowl God tells us especially when he sees a weakened or
shakened faith. The moment you came to
faith in Christ you placed yourself on the front lines of spiritual
warfare. I am not sure exactly how he
will attack you but he will and he does.
There are at least two things we
must keep in mind as to how Satan will attack us. Two reasons why we must stay on red alert.
2. WE ARE TO RESIST SATAN 5:9
The idea is to take a
defensive posture instead of an offensive one.
We are not commanded to attack him.
We are to resist strong in our faith.
We are to resist not to rebuke.
Resisting is our business and rebuking Satan is Gods. The only way we can have the strength to
withstand Satan’s attacks is to be dependent upon a source of power superior to
that of us or Satan. When we are
successful we can be tempted with pride.
When we suffer we can be tempted with doubt and unbelief. On the one hand we can think that we can go
it alone and on the other that God has abandoned us so we can act independently
of God and His Word. But we can stand
strong in our faith he tells us because we know that we are not alone in our
suffering. Our situation is not unique. Others have faced the kind of hardship or
suffering we are experiencing. Throughout
the world today fellow believers are suffering for their faith and we can have
the resolve to continue to stand firm in ours.
For instance, our suffering here is anemic compared with the suffering
of believers in Muslim countries, India and other parts of the globe. We think experiencing shame for being a xian
is being ostracized from a popular peer group.
That is something we may have to deal with. But compared to the shame of being ostracized
from your family or having your life constantly threatened, we can find the
strength to endure our trials and not be overcome by the schemes of the
devil. Resisting simply refers to our
refusal to submit to him. I will not cave
into attitudes or actions contrary to Gods Word. I will stand firm on the truth with the
knowledge that many others have done the same too.
3. GOD WILL USE SATANS
OPPOSITION TO DEVELOP OUR SPIRITUAL CHARACTER 5:10-11
The reality is that our
suffering is only for awhile. In other
words, while Satan attempts to destroy our faith in God, God determines to use
the opposition to further His purposes and strengthen our spiritual
character. The very trials which may
appear to be the means Satan employs for our destruction are the means God
employs for our deliverance and development.
Behind the undeserved suffering as a believer stands Satan wanting to
devour us, and behind Satan stands God, sure to perfect and purify us. No wonder Peter writes in Vs 11 ‘to him
belongs the power forever’. You will be unjustly treated because of your faith
in Christ. When you dare to stand true
to Christ in your life and relationships, you are inviting hardship. God says when that happens, do not buckle
underneath the pain because it is only temporary. Your suffering in Christ will last only a
little while your glory in Christ to which you are called will be eternal! Let God establish your faith by the
persecution you experience as you stand for Christ in your life. Do not compromise or cave into the
temptations all around you!
CONCLUSION:
1. Satan is not equal to
God. he does not possess the attributes
of God and is inferior to God.
2. Satan focuses his attention on religion. he will do anything to divert people from the
necessity of faith in Christ for salvation and living a godly life.
3. Satan does not make us do anything. we are carried away and enticed by our own
lusts James 1. Satan can tempt us
through the world but is not responsible for our sin.
4. Satan is formidable but can be defeated. We can resist him and he will flee from us
James tells us. 1 Jn 4:4 ‘greater is he
that is in us than he that is in the world.’